Ali G fails to win respect in the US

One victim is reportedly considering legal action. Others claim exploitation. The public figures and minor officials tricked by comic Ali G into spoof interviews for his new US television series are not among his latest fans.

Their collective failure to appreciate his flippant humour is unlikely to damage his reputation among his mythical Staines "massive" posse. But the refusal by most US TV critics to accord him any respect may prove more wounding.

Determined to challenge conventional wisdom, Ali G - the creation of Sacha Baron Cohen - launched his first programme on the cable channel HBO by explaining he had crossed the Atlantic to help the US with some of the problems following "7/11".

"Cohen in character is clueless as Caucasian hip-hop interviewer Ali, but nothing excuses joking about September 11 2001," observed Tom Shales in the Washington Post. "The word tasteless doesn't even begin to cover it."

The first in the six-part series of Da Ali G Show, entitled Law and Order, was broadcast last Friday.

In one interview Cohen, as Ali G, puts questions to former CIA director James Woolsey. "Let's talk about some conspiracy things. Let's go back to the grassy knoll," he says. "Who actually shot JR?" Mr Woolsey politely corrects the reference to JFK's assassination.

Los Angeles-based television writer Lynn Elber is not amused: "If we give Cohen the benefit of the doubt and assume he's trying to drive home a point about American violence and the pop culture of Dallas and JR Ewing, we've just reached the Ali G mountaintop of wit.

"Otherwise, he's busy making jokes about sex, about whether the seat in the UN marked Jordan is for Michael Jordan rather then the country, and then more jokes about sex."

In another spoof interview during the show, the former US attorney general Richard Thornburgh is asked: "So when's it all right to murder someone?" Mr Thornburgh, shocked, replies: "Never". Ali G persists: "But what if de call your ma a ho?"

This Friday's programme features the former UN general secretary Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who is asked: "Is Disneyland a member of the UN?"

Future victims include Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, and Ralph Nader the consumer rights champion. Mr Nader is understood to be so irritated he is considering suing.